Digital camera system

ABSTRACT

A digital camera system capable of operating by detecting a feature point, which has not been accomplished, in addition to ordinary functions of a conventional camera is provided. According to an aspect of the present invention, a digital camera system includes a detecting means that detects a given feature point from an image data, a receiving means that receives an order from a user, a selecting means that selects each feature point in accordance with a given order instructed by the receiving means when a plurality of feature points are detected, and a display that displays feature point information identifying the feature point selected by the selecting means.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/814,142 filed Apr. 1,2004. The disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

The disclosures of the following priority applications are hereinincorporated by reference:

Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-109882 filed on Apr. 15, 2003;

Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-109883 filed on Apr. 15, 2003;

Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-109884 filed on Apr. 15, 2003;

Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-109885 filed on Apr. 15, 2003; and

Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-109886 filed on Apr. 15, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital camera system capable ofdetecting a feature point of a person and operating on the basis of thedetected result.

2. Description of Related Art

The method for detecting a person from an image data has been knownstarting from a system that confirms a person himself by comparingfingerprints or the iris with that stored in advance. U.S. Pat. No.5,982,912 precisely discloses a method that discriminates a person bycomparing feature points detected from an input image with featurepoints such as an eye, a nose, a mouth, and the like stored in advance.Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-232934 discloses a methodthat increases accuracy of the image dictionary upon storing featurepoints detected in such manner. The following examples are applicationsof such method to a camera.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,371 discloses a video camera that separatelycontrols parameters for processing a specific subject portion and thosefor the other portion by detecting the specific subject signal.Accordingly, for example, white balance of the subject can be correctedand the background can be defocused upon shooting portrait photography.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,812,193 discloses a video camera that calculates thearea of the detected face image and carries out zooming processcomparing it with a reference face area.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-233384 discloses an imageinput device that divides a shot image data into a given number andautomatically expands and outputs a divided image including a specificimage among the divided images.

EP1128316A1(Feb. 28, 2000 U.S. Pat. No. 514,436) discloses a camera thatstores data such as coordinates and dimension of a face detected by aface-detection-algorism, position of the eye and a pose of the headtogether with the image data. Moreover, it discloses that the cameracarries out automatic red-eye correction algorism and applies to adetected face a face-priority-color-balance algorism.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-218020 discloses an imageprocessing method that assumes sex of a person by detecting lips andlocally carries out processes such as skin color, gradation, andsmoothing.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-330882 discloses a camerathat changes a detection algorism for detecting subject informationcorresponding to a shooting mode. Here, for example, focusing and theaperture value are controlled corresponding to the number and the sizeof the detected face in accordance with the face detection algorism.

U.S. Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002/101619A1 discloses an imagestoring device that stores a shot image in connection withdiscrimination information of the subject stored in advance.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-051255 discloses amain-subject-detection camera that detects the main subject and measuresthe distance to the main subject when a plurality of people are detectedby a person-detection means. Here, the person locating at the nearestposition, having the largest area, or locating at the center of theimage frame is discriminated as the main subject.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-333652 discloses an imageshooting device that generates a storing signal comparing shot faceinformation with face information stored in advance. When pluralitynumber of faces are there in the image frame, a face corresponding tohigher priority face code is focused.

U.S. Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003/0071908A1 discloses animaging device that detects a face and sets a distance measuring area ora photometry area to at least a portion of the face. Moreover, itdiscloses an image-shooting-with-emitting-a-speedlight device thatdetects a face and emits a speedlight for preventing red-eye.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the aforementioned problems andhas an object to provide a digital camera system capable of operating bydetecting a feature point, which has not been accomplished, in additionto ordinary functions of a conventional camera.

In order to solve the problems, a digital camera system according toclaim 1 includes a detecting means that detects a given feature pointfrom an image data, a receiving means that receives an order from auser, a selecting means that selects each feature point in accordancewith a given order instructed by the receiving means when a plurality offeature points are detected, and a display that displays feature pointinformation identifying the feature point selected by the selectingmeans. Accordingly, a user can easily select a desired person. In claim2, the display displays information regarding the feature point overlaidwith the image data is included. In claim 3, a face detection means thatdetects the size of a face from the feature point detected by detectingmeans is included. The selecting means selects the face in descendingorder of the face size detected by the face detection means. In claim 4,a distance detection means that detects a distance to the feature pointdetected by the detecting means is included. The selecting means selectsthe feature point in ascending order of the distance detected by thedistance detection means, so the user can easily select a desiredsubject. In claim 5, a focus-area-setting means that sets a given areaincluding the feature point detected by the detecting means as a focusarea for detecting focus is included. In claim 6, aphotometry-area-setting means that sets a given area including thefeature point detected by the detecting means as a photometry area isincluded.

In another aspect of the present invention, claim 7 provides a digitalcamera system including a detecting means that detects a given featurepoint from an image data, a display that displays the feature pointdetected by the detecting means, a receiving means that receivesinformation regarding the feature point displayed by the display, and amemory that stores the feature point and information regarding thefeature point. Accordingly, information regarding the feature pointtogether with the feature point are stored in the memory such as anonvolatile memory in the digital camera.

In claim 8, the information regarding the feature point is specific nameinformation. In claim 9, the information regarding the feature point ispriority information determined when a plurality of feature points aredetected at a time. In claim 10, a discriminating means thatdiscriminates the priority information, and a selecting means thatselects feature point in order of the priority discriminated by thediscriminating means are included. In claim 11, adistance-measuring-area-setting means that sets a distance measuringarea for measuring a distance to a subject displayed on the display isincluded. The priority information is a priority among the plurality offeature points upon setting the distance measuring area by thedistance-measuring-area-setting means. In claim 12, aphotometry-area-setting means that sets a photometry area for measuringlightness of the subject displayed on the display is included. Thepriority information is a priority among the plurality of feature pointsupon setting the photometry area by the photometry-area-setting means.

In claim 13, the information regarding the feature point is at least oneof color process information and outline correction process informationupon storing the image data including the feature point. In claim 14,the information regarding the feature point is at least one of colorprocess information and outline correction process information uponreproducing the image data including the feature point. In claim 15, adiscriminating means that discriminates and displays whether or not atleast one of the feature point and information regarding the featurepoint displayed on the display is stored in the memory is included.

In another aspect of the present invention, claim 16 provides a digitalcamera system including a detecting means that detects a given featurepoint from an image data, a display that displays the feature pointdetected by the detecting means, a input means that inputs informationregarding the feature point displayed by the display, a instructionmeans that instructs to store the feature point and informationregarding the feature point in connection with the image data, and amemory that stores the feature point, information regarding the featurepoint, and the image data instructed by the instruction means.Accordingly, information regarding the feature point and the featurepoint are stored in the memory in connection with the image data, so itis convenient to select later a subject on the basis of the informationregarding the feature point. In claim 17, the information regarding thefeature point is positional information in the image data upon detectingthe feature point from the image data.

The invention according to claim 18 includes a memory that stores afirst feature point and first specific name information regarding thefirst feature point, a detecting means that detects a given featurepoint from an image data, an input means that inputs second specificname information regarding a second feature point detected by thedetecting means, and a storing instruction means that instructs toadditionally store in the memory the second feature point when the firstspecific name information and the second specific name information areidentical and the first feature point and the second feature point aredifferent.

Accordingly, when the specific memory information regarding the detectedsubject is the same as the specific name information such as a person'sname stored in the memory such as a built-in memory and when a newfeature point regarding the person is detected, the detected featurepoint is additionally stored in the built-in memory, so that theaccuracy of discriminating the person can be increased.

The invention according to claim 19 includes a first memory that storesa first feature point and specific name information regarding the firstfeature point, a second memory that stores a second feature point andthe specific name information in connection with an image data, astoring instruction means that instructs to additionally store in thefirst memory the second feature point when the first feature point andthe second feature point are different. Accordingly, feature pointsregarding the same specific name information are additionally stored inadvance in the built-in memory from a memory card in which the imagedata, feature point and the specific name information such as a person'sname regarding thereof are stored, so that the accuracy ofdiscriminating the person can be increased.

The invention according to claim 20 includes a first memory that storesa first feature point and specific name information regarding the firstfeature point, a second memory that stores a second feature point andthe specific name information in connection with an image data, and astoring instruction means that instructs to additionally store in thesecond memory the first feature point when the first feature point andthe second feature point are different. Accordingly, a feature point notdetected from the image data stored in the memory card can additionallybe stored in the memory card, so the number of feature points regardingthe person in the memory card can gradually be increased.

The invention according to claim 21 includes a display that displays animage data, a detecting means that detects a given feature point fromthe image data, a memory that stores a plurality of feature points inadvance, a checking means that checks whether or not the feature pointdetected by the detecting means is the same as any one of the featurepoints stored in the memory, and a discriminating-display means thatdiscriminates and displays on the display the checked result checked bythe checking means. Accordingly, it becomes possible to discriminateimmediately whether the detected feature point has already stored ornot.

In claim 22, the memory stores at least one of specific name informationregarding the feature point and priority information for setting apriority of selection when a plurality of feature points are detected ata time, and the discriminating-display means displays on the displayinformation stored in the memory regarding the feature point checked asthe same by the checking means.

The invention according to claim 23 includes a detecting means thatdetects a given feature point from an image data, and a control meansthat controls the detected feature point in connection with the imagedata. Accordingly, the image data and the feature point detected from itcan be stored in connection with each other.

The invention according to claim 24 includes a memory that stores agiven feature point in an image data in connection with informationregarding the given feature point, a detecting means that detects afeature point from an image data, an assigning means that assigns atleast one of the given feature point and information regarding the givenfeature point stored in the memory, an agreement checking means thatchecks whether or not the feature point detected by the detecting meansis the same as the given feature point, a size checking means thatchecks the size of the feature point checked by the agreement checkingmeans as the same, and a zooming means that zooms in/out a given areaincluding the feature point corresponding to the size of the featurepoint checked by the size checking means. Accordingly, when a featurepint as the same as a given feature point such as a person is detected,the feature point is checked its size and zoomed in/out to become agiven size.

In claim 25, the agreement checking means includes an overlaid displaymeans that displays a subject corresponding to the feature point checkedas the same by the checking means overlaid with a maker. In claim 26,the information regarding the feature point is specific name informationfor specifying the feature point. In claim 27, the zooming means zoomsin/out such that the size of the feature point checked by the sizechecking means becomes a given range of the size. In claim 28, aposition-detecting means that detects the position of the agreed featurepoint in the shooting image frame is included. The zooming meansincludes a vibration correction lens that corrects vibration uponshooting and a vibration correction lens driver that drives thevibration correction lens such that the agreed feature point comes to agiven position in the shooting image frame in response to the detectedresult of the position-detecting means. Accordingly, a desired subjectalways comes to a given position (such as the center) of the image frameand is zoomed in/out. In claim 29, a position-detecting means thatdetects the position of the agreed feature point in the shooting imageframe is included. The zooming means includes an electronic zoomingmeans that zooms in/out electronically such that the agreed featurepoint comes to a given position in the shooting image frame in responseto the detected result of the position-detecting means. Accordingly, thedetected feature point is zoomed in/out to a given position such as thecenter of the image frame.

The invention according to claim 30 includes a detecting means thatdetects a given feature point from an image data, a position-detectingmeans that detects the position of the feature point in a shooting imageframe, a vibration correction lens that corrects vibration uponshooting, and a driver that drives the vibration correction lens suchthat the feature point comes to a given position in the shooting imageframe in response to the detected result of the position-detectingmeans. Accordingly, the detected feature point can always be positionedoptically at a desired position in the shooting image frame withoutusing a camera platform. In claim 31, the given position locates in thevicinity of the center of the shooting image frame. In claim 32, amemory that stores the given feature point in the image data togetherwith information regarding the given feature point, an assigning meansthat assigns at least one of the given feature point and informationregarding the given feature point stored in the memory, and an agreementchecking means that checks whether or not the feature point detected bythe detecting means is the same as the given feature point are furtherincluded. The driver drives the vibration correction lens such that thefeature point checked by the agreement checking means as the same comesto the given position. Accordingly, a given feature point can always beshot at a desired position such as the center of the image frame.

The invention according to claim 33 includes a shooting instructionmeans that instructs to shoot a still image of a subject, a detectingmeans that detects a given feature point from the still image data shotin response to the instruction of the shooting instruction means, adiscriminating means that discriminates a state of the given featurepoint detected by the detecting means, and a warning means that warns inaccordance with the discriminated result of the discriminating means.Accordingly, when the shot condition has not been satisfactory aftershooting, the warning gives a warning to a user right away, so that theuser can take a measure such as reshooting. In claim 34, the givenfeature point is a pupil portion of a person and when the discriminatingmeans discriminates that a pupil has not been detected, the warningmeans gives a warning. Accordingly, when a person is shot with his/hereyes shut, a warning is given. In claim 35, the given feature point isan eye or a face outline of a person and when the discriminating meansdiscriminates that the eye or the face outline has a camera shake, thewarning means gives a warning. Accordingly, when a person is shot withhis/her eyes blinking or with his/her face moving, a warning is given.In claim 36, the detecting means detects a face of a person beforeshooting a still image and the given feature point is a face of a personand when the number of the faces detected by the detecting means beforeshooting a still image has not coincide with that detected from the shotstill image, the warning means gives a warning. Accordingly, when adesired person is shot with hiding behind another person, a warning isgiven.

The invention according to claim 37 includes a shooting instructionmeans that instructs to shoot an image of a subject, a detecting meansthat detects a given feature point from the image data shot in responseto the instruction of the shooting instruction means, a discriminatingmeans that discriminates a state of the given feature point detected bythe detecting means, and a reshooting instruction means that instructsthe shooting instruction means to reshoot the subject in accordance withthe discriminated result of the discriminating means. Accordingly, whena shot condition has not been satisfactory after shooting, the subjectis automatically reshot. In claim 38, the given feature point is a pupilportion of a person and when the discriminating means discriminates thata pupil has not been detected, the reshooting instruction meansinstructs to reshoot the subject. Accordingly, when a person is shotwith his/her eyes shut, the person is automatically reshot. In claim 39,the given feature point is an eye or a face outline of a person and whenthe discriminating means discriminates that the eye or the face outlinehas a camera shake, the reshooting instruction means instructs toreshoot the subject. Accordingly, when a person is shot with his/hereyes blinking or with his/her face moving, the person is automaticallyreshot. In claim 40, the detecting means detects a face of a personbefore shooting an image and the given feature point is a face of aperson and when the number of the faces detected by the detecting meansbefore shooting an image has not coincide with that detected from theshot image, the reshooting instruction means instructs to reshoot thesubject. Accordingly, when a desired person is shot with hiding behindanother person, the person is automatically reshot.

The invention according to claim 41 includes a detecting means thatdetects a given feature point from an image data, a memory that stores aplurality of color reproduction parameters for carrying out colorreproduction of the whole image data, a discriminating means thatdiscriminates a face of a person from the feature point detected by thedetecting means, a size comparator that compares the size of the facediscriminated by the discriminating means with a given value, and aselecting means that selects a color reproduction parameter givingpriority to skin color among the plurality of color reproductionparameters when the size comparator discriminates that the size of theface is the given value or more. Accordingly, when the detected facesize is a given value or more, color reproduction parameter givingpriority to skin color is selected.

The invention according to claim 42 includes a detecting means thatdetects a given feature point from an image data, a memory that stores aplurality of color reproduction parameters for carrying out colorreproduction of the whole image data, a discriminating means thatdiscriminates a face of a person from the feature point detected by thedetecting means, a number comparator that compares the number of thefaces discriminated by the discriminating means with a given value, anda selecting means that selects a color reproduction parameter givingpriority to skin color among the plurality of color reproductionparameters when the number comparator discriminates that the number ofthe faces is the given value or more. Accordingly, when the number ofdetected faces is a given value or more, color reproduction parametergiving priority to skin color is selected.

The invention according to claim 43 includes an imaging device thatimages a subject, an aperture stop that controls light quantity incidenton the imaging device, a detecting means that detects a given featurepoint from an image data output from the imaging device, adiscriminating means that discriminates the size and the number of thefaces from the feature point detected by the detecting means, and acontrol means that controls the aperture value of the aperture stop tobecome small when the discriminating means discriminates that the facesize detected by the detecting means is a first given value or more anda second given value or less. Accordingly, when the size of the detectedface is large to a certain extent and when the number of the detectedface is three to four or less, the image is discriminated as a portraitphotograph and shot by setting small aperture value to obtain an imagewith shallow depth of focus.

The invention according to claim 44 includes a detecting means thatdetects a given feature point for discriminating a subject from an imagedata, a setting means that sets a given setting condition correspondingto at least one item of photometry, measuring distance and white balanceeach including a plurality of setting conditions upon shooting, and aninstructing means that instructs the setting means to set differentsetting condition in accordance with the detected result of thedetecting means. Accordingly, the best setting condition in accordancewith the detected subject can be set.

In claim 45, a discriminating means that discriminates the subject isfurther included. When the setting condition is any one of a conditionsuitable for a landscape, a distant subject, and a night view and whenthe discriminating means discriminates a person as the subject, theinstructing means instructs the setting means to set a setting conditionsuitable for shooting a person. Accordingly, in the case of the aperturevalue is large for obtaining large depth of focus as an example suitablefor shooting a landscape, when a person is detected in the shootingimage frame, the shooting mode is immediately shifted to a mode suitablefor shooting a person setting the aperture vale to small obtainingshallow depth of focus. In claim 46, when the setting condition issuitable for shooting a person and when the detecting means does notdetect a person as the subject, the instructing means instructs thesetting means to set any one of a condition suitable for a landscape, adistant object and a night view. This is the opposite case of theabove-described claim 45. In the case setting a shooting mode suitablefor shooting a person, when a person is not detected in the shootingimage frame, the shooting mode is shifted to that suitable for shootinga landscape. In claim 47, a warning means that gives a warning when thesetting condition is suitable for shooting a person and when thedetecting means does not detect a person as the subject is furtherincluded.

The invention according to claim 48 includes an AF means that controlsfocusing on the basis of a signal output from a given AF area in animage data, a detecting means that detects a given feature point fromthe image data, a face discriminating means that discriminates a face ofa person from the feature point detected by the detecting means, aposition discriminating means that discriminates a position of the facediscriminated by the face discriminating means, and a setting means thatsets a given second area as an AF area when the position discriminatingmeans discriminates that the face position is outside of a given firstarea. Accordingly, when a subject is located on the periphery of theshooting image frame, the AF area is set to a predetermined centralarea.

The invention according to claim 49 includes a shooting lens that iscomposed of a zoom lens and a focusing lens for shooting a subject, aposition sensor that detects a position of the zoom lens, a detectingmeans that detects a given feature point and information regarding thefeature point from an image data shot by the shooting lens, and acalculator that calculates a distance to the subject on the basis ofinformation regarding the feature point detected by the detecting meansand the position of the zoom lens detected by the position sensor.Accordingly, the distance to the subject is calculated on the basis ofthe information regarding the detected feature point and the zoomposition. In claim 50, the information regarding the feature point is atleast one of the face size and the pupil distance. In claim 51, arestriction means that restricts a moving range of the focusing lens toa given range on the basis of the distance to the subject calculated bythe calculator is further included. Accordingly, by restricting thefocus range of the focusing lens, the AF movement can be carried outfaster, and even if a high contrast backdrop exists, the AF movementcannot be affected by it. In claim 52, an aperture stop that controlslight quantity incident on the shooting lens, and an aperturedetermining means that determines an aperture value of the aperture stopsuch that when a plurality of faces are detected by the detecting means,a given face among the plurality of faces comes in focus on the basis ofthe distances to the plurality of faces calculated by the calculator arefurther included. Accordingly, by varying the aperture value inaccordance with the calculated distance to each face, a desired face canbe located within the depth of focus of the shooting lens.

The invention according to claim 53 includes an illumination means thatilluminates a subject upon shooting the subject, a detecting means thatdetects a given feature point from an image data, a distance calculatorthat calculates a distance to the feature point on the basis of thefeature point detected by the detecting means, and a illuminationquantity setting means that sets an illumination light quantity of theillumination means on the basis of the distance calculated by thedistance calculator. Accordingly, the light quantity of the speedlightcan be set in accordance with the distance to the detected featurepoint.

In claim 54, a plurality of photometry areas that measure luminance ofthe subject, and an exposure setting means that sets an exposurecondition upon shooting on the basis of an output of a given photometryarea among the plurality of photometry areas are further included.Accordingly, a proper exposure can be provided to both the detectedfeature point and the backdrop even if it is backlight condition.

In claim 55, a size detector that detects a face size or a pupildistance from the feature point detected by the detecting means, and alens position sensor that detects the focal length of the zoom lens arefurther included. The distance calculator calculates a distance to thefeature point on the basis of the face size or the pupil distancedetected by the size detector and the focal length of the zoom lensdetected by the lens position sensor. In claim 56, a discriminatingmeans that discriminates whether or not the distance is within thecontrollable exposure range of the illumination means on the basis ofthe distance to the subject calculated by the distance calculator, and awarning means that gives a warning when the discriminating meansdiscriminates that the distance is out of the controllable exposurerange are further included.

The invention according to claim 57 includes a main illumination meansthat illuminates a subject upon shooting the subject, an auxiliaryillumination means that illuminates the subject with an auxiliaryillumination in advance, a detecting means that detects a given featurepoint from an image data, and a setting means that sets an illuminationlight quantity of the main illumination means on the basis of areflection light from the feature point illuminated with the auxiliaryillumination by the auxiliary illumination means. Accordingly, since theillumination light quantity upon shooting is determined in accordancewith the reflected light from the feature point, the best exposure canbe provided to the feature point. In claim 58, the feature point is aface portion of a person.

The invention according to claim 59 includes an imaging device thatshoots an image of a subject, a memory that stores an image data, adetecting means that detects a given feature point from the image data,an instructing means that instructs the imaging device to shoot thesubject for storing in the memory, and a controller that controls thedetecting means not to carry out detecting procedure to an image dataoutput from the imaging device before the instructing means gives theinstruction. The detection is not carried out to the image data outputfrom the imaging device simply for monitoring purpose before shootingthe image data for storing the memory such as a memory card. After theshutter release button is pressed, the detection is carried out to theimage data output for storing before storing the image data.Accordingly, a precious shutter chance is not given away.

In claim 60, a processing means that processes at least one of whitebalance process and outline enhancement process on the basis of thefeature point detected by the detecting means in response to theinstruction given by the instructing means is further included. In claim61, a controller that controls the memory to store the image dataprocessed by the processing means is further included.

The invention according to claim 62 includes a memory that stores agiven feature point together with information regarding the featurepoint detected from an image data, a display that displays either thefeature point or the information regarding the feature point stored inthe memory, and a deleting means that deletes from the memory at lest aportion of the feature point or the information regarding the featurepoint displayed on the display. Accordingly, the feature point orinformation regarding the feature point can be deleted from the memorysuch as the inside memory or the outside memory card.

The invention according to claim 63 includes a memory that stores agiven feature point together with information regarding the featurepoint detected from an image data, a display that displays either thefeature point or the information regarding the feature point stored inthe memory, and a controller that changes at least a portion of thefeature point or the information regarding the feature point displayedon the display and stores to the memory. Accordingly, the feature pointor information regarding the feature point can be changed from thememory such as the inside memory or the outside memory card.

Other feature and advantages according to the present invention will bereadily understood from the detailed description of the preferredembodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram explaining main features of a digital camerasystem according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the total sequence of actions of thedigital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart explaining a sequence of actions of the digitalcamera according to the present invention in which the mode of thedigital camera is set to reproduction mode.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart explaining a sequence for storing feature pointinformation.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart explaining a sequence for setting shooting angleof view.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart explaining a sequence for setting shootingcondition.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart explaining a sequence for setting other shootingcondition.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart explaining a sequence for setting other shootingcondition.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart explaining a sequence for setting an emittinglight quantity of a speedlight.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart explaining a shooting sequence.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart explaining an other shooting sequence.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart explaining a shooting sequence.

FIG. 13 is a drawing explaining a storing state of a feature point andfeature information.

FIG. 14 is a drawing explaining a storing state of a image data andfeature information attached thereof.

FIG. 15 is a drawing showing markers overlaid each detected featurepoint discriminating with different marker.

FIG. 16 shows an example of setting an AF area or an AE area.

FIG. 17 shows another example of setting an AF area or an AE area.

FIG. 18 shows another example of setting an AF area or an AE area.

FIG. 19 shows another example of setting an AF area or an AE area.

FIG. 20 shows an example of setting an AF area.

FIG. 21 is a graph showing change in evaluation value relative to thefocusing lens position.

FIG. 22 is a drawing explaining the case when the distance to the personis calculated on the basis of the pupil distance of the detected personand the focal length of the zoom lens.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are going to be explained belowwith reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram explaining main features of a digital camerasystem according to the present invention.

A shooting lens 101 is composed of a zoom lens for varying the focallength continuously, a focusing lens for adjusting focal point, and a VR(vibration reduction) lens for correcting a camera shake upon shooting.These lenses are driven by a driver 113. The driver 113 is composed of azooming lens driving mechanism and its driving circuit, a focusing lensdriving mechanism and its driving circuit, and a VR lens drivingmechanism and its driving circuit. Each mechanism is controlled by a CPU112. A detector 121 detects positions of the focusing lens and thezooming lens and transmits each lens position to the CPU 112.

The shooting lens 101 forms a subject image on an imaging surface of animaging device 103. The imaging device 103 a is a photoelectricconverter such as a CCD-type or MOS-type solid-state imaging deviceoutputting electric signals in response to the intensity of the subjectimage formed on the imaging surface. The imaging device 103 is driven bya driver 115 controlling timing of outputting signals therefrom. Anaperture stop 102 is arranged between the shooting lens 101 and theimaging device 103. The aperture stop 102 is driven by a driver 114having a stopping mechanism and its driving circuit. An imaging signalfrom the solid-state imaging device 103 is input to an analogue signalprocessor 104 and processed such as a correlated double sampling (CDS)process and the like. The imaging signal processed by the analoguesignal processor 104 is converted from an analogue signal to a digitalsignal by an A/D converter 135.

The A/D converted signal is carried out various image processing such asedge enhancement, gamma correction and the like by a digital signalprocessor 106. A plurality of parameters for edge enhancement areprovided in advance and the optimum parameter is selected in accordancewith the mage data. In the digital signal processor 106, aluminance/color difference signal generating circuit and the likecarrying out processing for recording are included and parameters forgenerating these signals are also provided. Accordingly, the mostsuitable parameter is selected from these plurality of parameters inaccordance with a shot image. The plurality of parameters for edgeenhancement and color reproduction are stored in a memory 1127,explained later, in which the best suited parameter is selected by theCPU 112. A buffer memory 105 is a frame memory on which data of aplurality of image frames shot by the imaging device 103 and temporallystores the A/D converted signals. The data stored in the buffer memory105 is read out by the digital signal processor 106, carried out eachprocessing described above, and, after processing, stored again in thebuffer memory 105. The CPU 112 is connected with the digital signalprocessor 106 and drivers 113 through 115, and carries out sequentialcontrol of the shooting movement of the camera system. An AE calculator1121 in the CPU 112 carries out auto-exposure calculation on the basisof the image signal from the imaging device. An AWB calculator 1122carries out auto-white-balance calculation for setting parameters forwhite balance. A feature-detection calculator 1123 stores features suchas a shape, position, size and the like of a person in the image data inthe memory 1127 on the basis of a given algorism, calculates anapproximate distance to each detected person on the basis of the sizesof the detected face, pupil distance, and the like and the focal lengthof the zoom lens detected by the detector 121, and stores it to thememory 1127 together with the detected time and date. Here, the methodof calculating the distance is explained below with reference to FIG.22. FIG. 22 shows the case when the distance to the person is calculatedon the basis of the pupil distance of the detected person. The referencesymbol “A” denotes an average value of the pupil distance of a grown-upman, “a” denotes a detected pupil distance formed on the imaging device,“L” denotes a distance between a shooting lens and the person, and “f”denotes the focal length. The following proportional expression iseasily derived from FIG. 22:

A/L=a/f

Therefore, the distance to the person L becomes L=(A/a)·f. In thismanner, detected features and the distances to the features calculatedon the basis of the detected features are temporally stored in thememory 1127. Then, the user selects features to be saved among suchstored features and registers them by selecting. The contents and themethod of the registration is explained later in detail with referenceto FIG. 13.

A band-pass filter (BPF) 1124 picks up high frequency component of agiven frequency range on the basis of a shooting signal in the focusdetection area arranged in the imaging area. The output of the BPF 1124is input to a following adder 1125, and, here, the absolute value of thehigh frequency component is integrated as a focus evaluation value. AnAF calculator 1126 carries out the AF calculation by a contrast methodon the basis of these focus evaluation values. On the basis of thecalculation result of the AF calculator 1126, the CPU 112 adjusts focusrange of the shooting lens 101 and carries out focusing.

On an operating member 116 connecting with the CPU 112, a power switch1161 for turning on/off the power of the camera system, a half-pressswitch 1162 and a full-press switch 1163 for turning on/off in responseto the shutter release button, a setting button 1164 for selectingvarious kinds of contents for shooting mode, an Up/Down button 1165 forrenewing reproducing images, and the like. The setting button 1164 usesthe U/D button together to set a name to a selected feature by selectingan alphabet, a numeral, and the like. Except this function, the U/Dbutton 1165 is also used for selecting a desired person from a pluralityof detected people, and for manually driving the zoom to thetelephoto/wide-angle side upon shooting.

When the luminance of a subject is low, a speedlight 122 is emitted.Upon shooting with using the speedlight, the speedlight 122 also has amonitor pre-flash function that prevents or reduces the subject's eyesbecoming red or measures the luminance of the subject in advance byemitting an AF-assist illuminator when the luminance of the subject islow. The reference number 123 denotes a sounding body such as a buzzerfor warning something wrong with the camera system by a sound. In thememory 1127, a peak value of the evaluation value detected by the resultfrom the AF calculation and corresponding lens position are stored inaddition to the aforementioned feature information. Image data carriedout various processing by the digital signal processor 106 is stored inan external memory 111 such as a memory card and the like through aread-write signal processor 110 after temporally storing in the buffermemory 105. When the image data is stored in the external memory 111,generally a given compression format such as a JPEG format is used forcompressing the image data. The read-write signal processor 110 carriesout data compression upon storing the image data in the external memory111 and data expansion upon reproducing a compressed image data from anexternal memory 111 or transferred from another camera system. Thereference number 120 denotes an interface for carrying out datacommunication with an external device such as a digital camera and thelike by radio transmission or connected line. Such interface may exist aplurality numbers at a time.

A monitor 109 is an LCD display for showing a shot subject image orshowing various setting menus upon shooting/reproducing. This is alsoused for reproducing an image data stored in the external memory 111 ortransferred from another camera system. When an image is shown on themonitor 109, an image data stored in the buffer memory 105 is read outand converted a digital image data into an analogue image signal by aD/A converter 108. Then, an image is shown on the monitor 109 by usingthe analogue image signal.

The contrast method that is an AF control method used by the digitalcamera is explained. In this method, focusing is carried out by usingthe fact that degree of defocusing and a contrast of an image has amutual relation and the contrast of an image becomes maximum when theimage comes into focus. The magnitude of contrast can be evaluated bythe magnitude of high frequency component of the imaging signal. Inother words, the high frequency component of the imaging signal isdetected by the BPF 1124, the absolute value of the high frequencycomponent is integrated by the adder 1125, and let the result be a focusevaluation value. As described above, the AF calculator 1126 carries outAF calculation on the basis of the focus evaluation value. CPU 112adjusts the focusing position of the shooting lens 101 by using theresult of the calculation.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are flow charts showing the total sequence of actions ofthe digital camera having a face recognition function. In FIG. 2, instep S101, when the digital camera detects that the power of the digitalcamera is turned on by the power switch 1161, the flow proceeds to astep S102. In step S102, the operation mode of the digital camera ischecked. Here, whether the mode set by the setting button 1164 is set toa shooting mode for shooting a subject or to a reproducing mode forreproducing an image data stored in the memory card is discriminated.When the mode is set to the reproducing mode, the flow proceeds to stepS117 shown in FIG. 3. When the mode is set to the shooting mode, theflow proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the subject image is displayedvideos on the LCD monitor 109. In step S104, whether the displayed imageis set to carry out a feature detection process for detecting featurepoints in accordance with a given algorism or not is discriminated. Thesetting button 1164 is used for this setting. When the image is not setto carry out a feature detection process, the flow proceeds to step S113and ordinary shooting process is carried out. When the image is set tocarry out a feature detection process, the flow proceeds to step S105and feature points and their positional information are detected fromevery one or two to three frames of the video image data displayed onthe LCD monitor 109. The detected feature points are such as a face,eyes, pupils, eyebrows, a nose, a mouth, ears, hands, legs, and outlineof eyeglasses and its direction, position, and dimension. Moreover, sex,race and age of the person can be discriminated by detecting hairstyle,bone structure, and the kind of clothes of the person. Furthermore, notonly a person but also general subject of an animal such as a dog, acat, and a bird, and houses and cars can be detected. The followingexplanation is mainly in the case of detecting features of a person.

In step S106, whether there is any coincident feature point between aplurality of detected feature points and those stored in the memory 1127of the digital camera in advance is checked. When there is no coincidentfeature point, the flow proceeds to step S107. In step S107, a markerindicating that a feature point is detected is overlaid with the imagedisplayed on the LCD monitor 109. On the other hand, when there is acoincident feature point, then the flow proceeds to step S108. In stepS108, another maker different from the other makers indicating that thefeature point has already stored is overlaid. An example of the case isshown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 shows that among the six people in the frame aperson's face is too small to detect a feature point as a face, theother five people are detected their feature points as respective faces,and a person among them is detected as one already stored. The faces offour people who are simply detected their feature points are enclosedwith a broken line and the face of a person whose feature point hasalready been stored is enclosed with a solid line. Moreover, whenpersonal information such as a name corresponding to the feature pointhas already been stored as feature point information, it is also shownas FIG. 15. Accordingly, identification of the subject is confirmed allthe more. In this embodiment, priority on selecting AE area or AF areaexplained later is also stored as feature information. An example ofrecording in the memory 1127 regarding a feature point is shown in FIG.13. In FIG. 13, feature points corresponding to respective names such asMr. A, Ms. B, and Ms. C, and a feature point that has no-name such asMr. Unknown are stored in turn. In the stored contents of Mr. A, theaforementioned priority upon selecting AE area and AF area is set to 1.

Accordingly, for example, when Mr. A and Ms. C are detectedsimultaneously in the same shot image frame, an area including Mr. Atakes priority to be set as an AE area or an AF area. The order ofpriority can be changed arbitrarily. As Mr. A's feature pointinformation, the date when Mr. A's feature point information is storedis then stored as a registration date. The registration date indicatedby (1) is the date Mr. A is stored in the first place. The datesindicated by (2) and (3) are the dates Mr. A is additionally stored indifferent states where facing sideway, turning backward, wearingeyeglasses, or the like.

By storing a plurality of feature points as the same person inaccordance of wearing and not wearing eyeglasses or beard, accuracy ofidentifying a person from the detected feature points is increased.Regarding such feature points, the contents can be displayed on the LCDmonitor 109 and added or deleted arbitrarily. In addition to thepriority and the registration date, simple comments, effectiveprocessing (such as white balance setting, outline compensation, and thelike) upon storing or reproducing when the feature point is detected,the distance to the feature point, and the like may also be stored. Theactual data of such feature point set to be stored is stored in thefeature point data area.

Step S109 through step S114 show processing peculiar to the detectedfeature point. Even if a feature point is detected, you can arbitrarilychoose a step to be applied among respective steps by using the settingbutton 1164. The following explanation corresponds to a case that allsteps are selected. In step S109, the detected result shown on thedisplay is stored. The storing procedure in step S109 is explained laterin detail with reference to FIG. 4. After finished storing, the flowproceeds to step S110 for setting an angle of view. By setting in stepS110, even if a plurality of people are there in a shot image frame, asubject to be aimed is automatically detected and is zoomed up to beplaced at the center of the frame. The function is particularlyeffective upon shooting your child in a sports meeting or a concert. Thestep S110 is explained later in detail with reference to FIG. 5. In stepS111, shooting conditions are set. When a plurality of people are therein a shooting image frame, an area including a person to be shot is setas an AF area or an AE area, or an aperture stop corresponding to thesize or the number of the people is set. The step S111 is explainedlater in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 through 8. In step S112, aspeedlight is set. The step S112 is explained later in detail withreference to FIG. 9. The steps from S109 through S112 are settingsbefore shooting, so the order of the settings can be changed arbitrarilyin accordance with the shooting image frame and the contents of eachsetting also can be changed at each step.

In step S113, a subject is shot. In this step, by detecting people, thenumber of shooting frames is automatically set, and the actual exposureis carried out in response to the movement of the people upon shooting.The procedure of the shooting steps is explained later in detail withreference to FIGS. 10 and 11. After shooting recording procedure iscarried out in step S114. In this step, an outline of the face of asubject is detected and processes such as changing white balance, andautomatically reducing freckles and moles are carried out. The step S114is explained later in detail with reference to FIG. 12. In step S115,the processed image data and the feature point information are combinedas a single file to be stored in the memory card. In step S116, whetherthe power is turned off or not is discriminated. When the power is notturned off, the flow returns to step S102 and discriminates theoperation mode of the digital camera. When the power switch is turnedoff, the sequence is completed.

In step S102, when reproduction mode has been set, the flow proceeds tostep S117 sown in FIG. 3. In step S117, an image data stored in thememory card 111 is reproduced and displayed on the LCD monitor 109. Thereproduced image may be a still image or a video image. In step S118,similar to step S104, whether the displayed image is set to carry out afeature detection process or not is discriminated. When the mode is notset to carry out a feature detection process, the flow proceeds to stepS127 to carry out ordinary reproduction. When the mode is set to carryout a feature detection process, the flow proceeds to step S119. In stepS119, whether feature point information is attached to a reproducingimage data or not is discriminated. When feature point information isnot attached, the flow proceeds to step S120. In step S120, a featurepoint is detected from the image data similar to step S105 and the flowproceeds to step S122. When feature point information is attached, theflow proceeds to step S121. In step S121, feature point informationattached to a reproducing image data is read out and the flow proceedsto step S122. In step S122, the detected feature points, read outfeature points, and feature information are overlaid with the reproducedimage. Instead of the feature points, the aforementioned marker or anicon may be overlaid.

In step S123, whether there is any coincident feature point between aplurality of detected feature points and those stored in the memory 1127of the digital camera is checked. Similar to step S106, when there is nocoincident feature point, the flow proceeds to step S124. In step S124,a marker indicating that a feature point is detected is overlaid withthe image displayed on the LCD monitor 109. On the other hand, whenthere is a coincident feature point, then the flow proceeds to stepS125. In step S125, another maker different from the other makersindicating that the feature point has already stored is overlaid. Instep 126, the detected result shown on the display is stored. Thestoring procedure is explained later with reference to FIG. 4. Aftercompletion of storing in step S126, the flow proceeds to step S127. Instep S127, whether the next image is reproduced or not is discriminated.When the next image is selected by the U/D button 1165, the flow returnsto step S117. On the other hand, when the next image is not selected,the flow proceeds to step S128. In step S128, whether the power switchis turned off or not is discriminated. When the power switch is notturned off, the flow returns to step S102 shown in FIG. 2. When thepower switch is turned off, the flow proceeds to the end.

<Storing Feature Point Information>

The step for storing feature point information is explained withreference to FIG. 4. The step for storing feature point informationshown in FIG. 4 is similar to the aforementioned step S109 in FIG. 2 andstep S126 in FIG. 3. When the image data is a shot image data, in stepS151, whether there is any coincident feature point between detectedfeature points and those stored in the memory 1127 of the digital camerais checked. When the image data is a reproduced image data, in stepS151, feature point or feature point information attached to thereproduced image data is read out. Whether there is any coincidentfeature point or feature point information between those of the read outimage data and those stored in the memory 1127 in the form explained inFIG. 13 is checked. When feature point or feature point information isnot attached to the reproduced image data, feature point is detectedfrom the reproduced image data similar to the shot image data.

Here, feature point information attached to the image data is explainedwith reference to FIG. 14. In the image data file DSC002 as shown inFIG. 14, feature point information and feature point data areadditionally stored beside the actual image data. In the case of FIG.14, two people of Mr. A and Ms. C are stored as feature pointinformation. As for the stored contents, priority, the date when Mr. Aor Ms. C is detected in the image data, and the position of center ofgravity of the feature point are stored. As for Mr. A, in addition tothose, two other feature points detected from other image data than theimage data DSC002 is additionally stored. Similar to FIG. 13, simplecomments or processing upon recording/reproducing may be stored.Moreover, the distance to the feature point calculated by thefeature-detection calculator 1123 may be stored. The data contents ofthe feature point information can be changed, added, and deletedarbitrarily. The actual feature point data regarding Mr. A and Ms. C isstored in turn in the feature point data area shown below.

In step S151, when the feature point of a shot image data or the featurepoint or the feature point information of a reproduced image data hasalready been stored in the memory 1127, the flow proceeds to step S152.In step S152, whether or not the already stored feature point or featurepoint information is to be changed or added is checked. In particular,detected person's name or priority is added or changed. When there is nochange or addition in step S152, the flow proceeds to step S156. On theother hand, there is any change or addition, the flow proceeds to stepS153.

In step S151, when the feature point of a shot image data or the featurepoint or the feature point information of a reproduced image data hasnot been stored in the memory 1127, the flow proceeds to step S153. Instep S153, detected features point and the feature point information tobe stored are shown on the LCD display 109. In step S154, whether thedisplayed feature point and feature point information have beeninstructed to be stored or not is checked. In principle, a newlydetected feature point is additionally stored together with featurepoint information in the memory 1127 in step S155 unless the newlydetected feature point is completely identical to that stored in thememory 1127. The storing instruction can be carried out, for example, bythe setting button 1164 by means of selecting a storing execution shownon the LCD display 109 (not shown) Accordingly, accuracy in identifyinga person gradually becomes high. When the detected feature point hasalready been stored or when a totally unrelated feature point for theuser is detected, it is not stored, so the flow proceeds to step S156.In step S156, whether the other feature points of the same image frameare to be stored or not is checked. When another feature point isselected, the flow returns to step S151 and stores it with the sameprocedure as before.

When any other feature point is not selected, the flow proceeds to stepS157. In step S157, an operation mode of the digital camera isdiscriminated. When a shooting mode has been set, the storing procedureis completed. The storing operation is carried out every time when thedisplayed image is changed. When a reproduction mode is set, the flowproceeds to step S158. In step S158, whether the memory card storingexecution is selected by the setting button 1164 or not is checked (notshown). When a storing instruction is selected, the flow proceeds tostep S159. In step S159, a changed or a newly added feature point orfeature point information is stored attaching with the original image inthe memory card. When a storing instruction is not selected, the storingprocedure is completed without renewing additional information.

<Setting an Angle of View for Shooting>

The setting an angle of view for shooting in step S110 shown in FIG. 2is explained with reference to FIG. 5. This is particularly convenientsetting sequence for shooting, for example, your child, Ms. C, in asport meeting. In step S171, a person to be shot (for example, Ms. C) isselected as a priority shooting person in advance by the setting button1164 from the feature point information stored in the memory 1127 on thebasis of proper name information. The person stored as the priorityshooting person is given priority over the priority listed on theaforementioned feature point. In step S172, whether the person (mainlythe face of the person) is detected in the shooting image frame ischecked. When it is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S173. Instep S173, CPU 112 instructs the driver 113 to zoom in toward atelephoto side of the zoom lens. The zoom in operation may be carriedout manually or automatically. In step S174, whether the zoom lensreaches the maximum focal length position or not is checked. When thezoom lens does not reach the maximum focal length position, the flowreturns to step S172 repeating the sequence until the person isdetected. In step S174, when the zoom lens has reached the maximum focallength position, the flow proceeds to step S175. In step S175, a warningthat the person is not found (not shown) is displayed on the LCD monitor109 and the procedure of setting an angle of view for shooting iscompleted. When the shooting image frame is changed upon changingshooting direction, the procedure starting from step S172 is repeated.

In step S172, when the face of the person is detected, the flow proceedsto step S176. In step S176, a maker is overlaid with the face of theperson as shown in FIG. 15. From the displayed image, the user checkswhether the face of the person to be set in advance is there in the shotimage frame or not. When the face of the person is there, the user caneasily capture the person to be shot in the image frame by moving theimage frame. In step S177, whether the face size of the person to be setin the image frame is a given size or more is checked. When the facesize exceeds the given size, the flow is completed. On the other hand,when the face size is less than the given size, the flow proceeds tostep S178. In step S178, CPU 112 automatically zooms in the zoom lens.At that time, the center of gravity of the detected subject iscontrolled to stay in the vicinity of the center of the image frame bysimultaneously driving the aforementioned VR lens by the driver 113.

In step S179, whether the face size of the person to be set becomes morethan a given size is checked. When the face size is not more that thegiven size, the flow proceeds to step S180. In step S180, whether thezoom lens reaches the maximum focal length position or not is checked.When the zoom lens does not reach the maximum focal length position, theflow returns to step S177 and zooming in operation and VR operation ofthe zoom lens are continued. In step S180, when the zoom lens reachesthe maximum focal length position, the flow proceeds to step S181 togive a warning. The warning is shown on the LCD monitor 109 (not shown)as well as given by a sound by the buzzer 123 and the flow proceeds tothe end. In step S179, when the face size of the person to be setexceeds the given size, the flow is completed. Here, the given size isset its approximate size, for example, about 10% of the whole imageframe by the setting button 1164. Moreover, in step S178, the face ofthe person to be set may merely be moved to the center of the imageframe not carrying out zooming in. Accordingly, the user can manuallyzoom in the desired subject locating in the center of the image frame soas to become the desired size. In this manner, users can store the shotimage of their child securely finding their child among a large numberof children in an occasion such as a sport meeting, a concert, or thelike. Although the preceding explanation is the case that the face isautomatically zoomed in when the size of the face is small, the face maybe zoomed out automatically so as to become a given size when the sizeof the face is large. Similarly, in step S174, after reaching themaximum focal length position, when the image frame is changed by theuser, the zoom lens may be zoomed out automatically until the desiredface is detected. The sequences in these cases are similar to those inthe case of zooming in, so the duplicated explanation is omitted.

<Setting Shooting Conditions>

Setting shooting conditions in step S111 shown in FIG. 2 is explainedwith reference to FIGS. 6 through 8. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing howto set the best depth of focus by varying the aperture stop in responseto the distance to each subject when a plurality of subjects aredetected.

In step S201, whether an outline of the face or the eyes of a person isdetected is checked. When neither of them is detected, the flow proceedsto step S208 concluding that the shot image is a long distance shot suchand a landscape. In step S208, the aperture stop is set to a large valueobtaining larger depth of focus. When an outline of the face or the eyesof a person is detected in step S201, the flow proceeds to step S202. Instep S202, the zoom position (focal length) of the zoom lens is detectedby the lens-position detector 121 and stored in the memory 1127. In stepS203, the distance to the subject is calculated on the basis of the sizeof the face outline or the pupil distance stored in the memory 1127 andstored in the memory 1127. In step S204, whether the distancecalculation has been completed regarding all people in the shot imageframe is checked. When it has not been completed, the flow returns tostep S203 and the distance calculations regarding respective people arecarried out storing each result in the memory 1127.

After the distance calculation regarding all detected people has beencompleted, the flow proceeds to step S205. In step S205, the number ofdetected people is discriminated. When the number of people detected instep S205 is more than a given value, the shooting image isdiscriminated as a group photograph, so the flow proceeds to step S208.In step S208, the aperture stop is set to a large value obtaining largerdepth of focus in order to bring every people into focus. In particular,the best depth of focus to bring everyone into focus is derived on thebasis of the distance to each person detected in step S203 and thecorresponding aperture value is set. When the number of people is lessthan the given value, the flow proceeds to step S206. In step S206, theface size of each detected person is discriminated. When the face sizeis more than a given value, the flow proceeds to step S207. In stepS207, the shooting image is discriminated as a portrait photograph andthe aperture value is set to a small value obtaining smaller depth offocus. On the other hand, when the face size is smaller than the givenvalue, the shooting image is discriminated as a commemorative photographwith a landscape, so the flow proceeds to step S208 setting the aperturestop to a large value to obtain larger depth of focus. Here, the givenvalue of the number of the people is set to three to four people inadvance.

Accordingly, when a user has set the shooting mode to a landscape and aperson is detected in the shooting image frame, the shooting mode canautomatically be changed to a portrait mode suitable for shooting aperson with smaller depth of field. On the other hand, when a user hasset the shooting mode to a portrait mode and no person is detected, theshooting mode can automatically changed to a landscape mode with largerdepth of focus. By the way, in the distance calculation to a subjectdescribed above, the face size and the pupil distance are differentbetween an adult and a child, and have individual variations even amongchildren. Accordingly, the value is an approximate distance derived froman average face size or pupil distance of an adult or an child. Theaccurate focusing position is determined on the basis of a peak positionof the aforementioned contrast method.

Then, how to set AF area and AE area is explained with reference toFIGS. 7, 16, 17 and 18. In FIG. 7, although how to set AF area isexplained, AE area can be set by the identical procedures. In step S221shown in FIG. 7, whether any person is there in a given area of theshooting image frame or not is checked. In the method of checking theexistence of a person, whether an outline of a face is detected or notis assumed to be checked.

When no person is detected, the flow proceeds to step S222. In stepS222, a predetermined fixed area such as a central area is set to be anAF area. This is because even if a person is detected, when the personis locating on the periphery of the image frame, the camera concludesthat the user does not put emphasis on the person, and excludes theperson. FIG. 16 shows an example of the shooting area in such case. InFIG. 16, since the person marked with a bold broken line is locatedoutside the area shown by a narrow broken line in the image frame, apredetermined central area shown by a bold solid line is set to be an AFarea. When a plurality of points can be measured, other AF areas can beset in addition to the central area.

In step S221, when a person is detected in the given area, the flowproceeds to step S223. In step S223, whether the number of the detectedperson is plural or not is checked. When the number is not plural, theflow proceeds to step S228, otherwise proceeds to step S224. In stepS224, the largest face among the detected faces is selected to be an AFarea and attached with a display to be an AF area. FIG. 17 shows anexample of a shooting image frame in such case. The example shows thatthe largest detected face is set as an AF area by a solid line. In stepS225, whether any other person other than that automatically set as anAF area is set as an AF area or not is checked. When any other personmarked by a broken line is selected by operating the setting button1164, the flow proceeds to step S226. In step S226, the AF area is movedin turn by the setting button 1164. In this case, when the detectedperson has a priority, the order of the selection is in order from thepriority. However, the selection may be carried out in order of the sizeof the detected face. In step S227, when the selection has completed,the flow proceeds to step S228. In step S228, whether or not the area ofthe detected face is a first given value or more is checked. When thearea is the first given value or less, the flow proceeds to step S229.In step S229, an AF area having a given size (here, the size of thefirst given value) including the detected face inside the area is set.This is because when the area of the detected face is too small, theprecision of the aforementioned AF calculation becomes worse. FIG. 18shows an example of such case.

In step S228, when the area of the detected face is larger than thefirst given value, the flow proceeds to step S230. In step S230, whetheror not the area of the detected face is a second given value or more ischecked. When the area is the second given value or more, the digitalcamera concludes that the shooting image is a portrait photograph andthe flow proceeds to step S231. In step S231, the position of thedetected eye is set to an AF area instead of setting whole face area toan AF area. FIG. 19 shows an example of the case. When the face area isthe second given value or less, the flow proceeds to step S232. In stepS232, the previously detected face area is set to an AF area. Here, thefirst and second given values are set to the best values in advance onthe basis of shooting various subjects.

In the above-described explanation, although the largest face isselected at first in step S224, a person having the highest storedpriority or a priority shooting person explained in the section ofsetting angle of view may be displayed first. Or a person may beselected in order from the shortest distance by calculating the distanceto each person at the same time of detecting the face. Moreover,regarding the aforementioned priority shooting person, AF movementcorresponding to a person may become resistant to the background bylimiting the moving range of the focusing lens to a given range in thevicinity of the calculated distance. Furthermore, AF tracking movementto the highest priority person becomes fast and certain. Moreover, whena continuous shooting mode is set in a sports photograph or the like,the shooting distance of the first frame is determined on the basis ofthe peak evaluation value of the contrast method, and on and after thesecond frame the distance to the subject can be calculated by detectingthe difference in the face outline or the pupil distance relative tothat of the previous frame in combination with the zoom lens position.Accordingly, an AF control capable of tracking the subject movement withhigh speed can be realized.

The above-described sequence for setting an AF area can be applied tosetting an AE area. In this case also, the first and second given valuesare determined to the best values in advance based upon experiments.

Then, change in the shooting mode is explained with reference to FIG. 8.In step S241, whether the shooting mode is set to a portrait modesuitable for shooting a portrait photograph or not is checked. In thisportrait mode, for example, the aperture stop is set to a value near tofull open in order to defocus the background, white balance is setmaking much on the skin color, and a focusing mode is set to the AFmode. When a portrait mode is set, the flow proceeds to step S242. Instep S242, whether a person is detected or not is checked. When noperson is detected, the flow proceeds to step S243. In step S243, itgives warning on the monitor or by a buzzer. In step S244, the shootingmode is changed to a landscape mode suitable for shooting a longdistance subject and the sequence completes. In the landscape mode, inorder to obtain large depth of focus, the aperture stop is set to alarge value, and the focusing mode is set to a fixed position where thedepth of focus reaches infinity by driving the focusing lens. Whitebalance is set to an ordinary shooting condition or a condition makingmuch on green of trees and blue of the sky upon shooting in the daytime.On the other hand, when a person is detected in step S242, the sequencecompletes. When a portrait mode does not set in step S241, the flowproceeds to step S245. In step S245, whether a person is detected or notis checked. When no person is detected, the sequence completes. When aperson is detected, the flow proceeds to step S246. In step S246, itgives warning on the monitor or by a buzzer. In step S247, the shootingmode is changed to a portrait mode suitable for shooting a person andthe sequence completes.

<Setting Speedlight>

The method of setting an emitting light quantity of a speedlight isexplained with reference to FIG. 9.

In step S251, whether or not the luminance of the subject in a given AEarea detected by the AE calculator 1121 is a given value or more ischecked. Here, the subject is not limited to a person. When theluminance of the subject is less than the given value, in other words, adark subject, the flow proceeds to step S261. When the luminance of thesubject is more than the given value, in other words, a bright subject,the flow proceeds to step S252. In step S252, whether a person has beendetected in the shooting image frame or not is checked. In this casealso, a person is discriminated by checking whether or not a faceoutline is detected. When no face outline is detected, flow proceeds tostep S253. In step S253, the speedlight is set not to emit light. CPU112 controls the speedlight not to emit light upon shooting on the basisof the setting not to emit light. Accordingly, upon actual shooting, thesubject is exposed by a shutter speed and an aperture value on the basisof the calculation result of the AE calculator 1121.

When a face outline is detected in step S252, the flow proceeds to stepS254. In step S254, lightness of the detected face is measured. In stepS255, whether measured lightness of the face is brighter than a givenvale or not is checked. When it is brighter than the given value, theflow proceeds to step S253, otherwise to step S256. In step S256, adistance to the detected person is calculated on the basis of the sizeof the detected face or the pupil distance and the focal length uponshooting similar to the aforementioned step S203 in FIG. 6. In stepS257, whether the distance to the person is within the range of properexposure of the speedlight or not is checked. When it is within therange of proper exposure, the flow proceeds to step S258. In step S258,the CPU sets a pre-emitting mode emitting light prior to shooting inorder to reduce red-eye and step proceeds to step S259. In step S259,the emitting light quantity of the speedlight is set on the basis of thecalculation to give proper exposure to the face of the detected person.Accordingly, CPU 112 controls to set the shutter speed and aperturevalue calculated by the AE calculator 1121 upon actual shooting. So,whole image frame except the person is shot with a proper exposure. Onthe other hand, regarding a person darker than the surroundings aspeedlight is controlled to emit with a proper light quantity calculatedon the basis of the distance to the person. Therefore, the person alsocan be shot with a proper exposure. The function is especially effectivefor shooting with backlight. Before emitting the speedlight CPU 112controls the speedlight to give pre-emitting set in step S258 in orderto reduce red-eye. The pre-emitting may be set to emit a plurality oftimes. In step S257, when the distance to the person is not within therange of proper exposure of the speedlight, the flow proceeds to stepS260. In step S260, the warning that the person is not given a properexposure is displayed (not shown).

In step S251, when the luminance of the subject is a dark subject, theflow proceeds to step S261. In step S261, whether a person has beendetected in the shooting image frame or not is checked. When an outlineof a face is detected, the flow proceeds to step S262. In step S262 asthe same as in step S256, a distance to the detected person iscalculated. In step S263, whether the distance to the person is withinthe range of proper exposure of the speedlight or not is checked. Whenit is not within the range of proper exposure, the flow proceeds to stepS260. In step S260, a warning that the person is not given a properexposure is displayed. On the other hand, when the distance is withinthe range of proper exposure, the flow proceeds to step S264. In stepS264, the CPU sets a pre-emitting mode emitting light prior to shooting.The pre-emitting mode is for determining the emitting light quantity ofthe speedlight upon actual shooting on the basis of the reflected lightfrom the face upon pre-emitting in addition to the reduction of red-eyedescribed in step S258. In step S265, the emitting light quantity of thespeedlight upon actual shooting is determined on the basis of thereflected light from the face upon pre-emitting. Similar to the priorcase, the pre-emitting may be set to emit a plurality of times. Thepre-emitting for reducing red-eye and that for measuring reflected lightmay be carried out separately. In step S261, when an outline of a faceis not detected, the flow proceeds to step S266. In step S266, theemitting light quantity of the speedlight is set on the basis of the AEcalculation of the luminance of the subject. In step S258 or S264,instead of setting the pre-emitting mode for reducing red-eye, it may bepossible that red-eye is corrected by software detecting the pupil ofthe shot image after shooting.

<Shooting>

Sequences of two shooting methods different from an ordinary shootingmethod are explained with reference to FIGS. 10, 11, 20 and 21. FIG. 10is a flowchart showing a sequence constructed such that when afull-press switch 1163 is turned on once, the digital cameraautomatically shoots at a plurality of peak positions of the focusevaluation value obtained from the AF area. Accordingly, a plurality ofimage frames focusing at respective subjects corresponding to respectivepeak positions. In step S301, when a half-press switch 1162 is turnedon, the flow proceeds to step S302. In step S302, CPU 112 carries outfocusing from the closest distance to infinity to calculate evaluationvalue and detects peak values. In step S303, whether there is aplurality of peak values or not is checked. When the peak value is onlyone, the flow proceeds to step S304. In step S304, whether a person isdetected by the feature-detection calculator 1123 or not is detected.When a person is detected, a distance to the detected person iscalculated on the basis of the size of the detected face or the pupildistance and the focal length upon shooting and is discriminated whetherwhich peak position among a plurality of peak positions is correspondingto. In step S305, CPU 112 selects a closest locating person as the firstshooting position and drives the focusing lens to the peak positioncorresponding to the closest person. In step S303, when the peakposition is only one, the flow proceeds to step S306. In step S306, thedetected peak position (in this case, the position becomes the closestpeak position) is selected. In step S304, when a plurality of peakpositions are detected and when no person is detected, the flow proceedsto step S306. In step S306, the closest position is selected as ashooting position.

In step S307, whether the full-press switch 1163 is turned on or not ischecked. When the switch is not turned on, the flow proceeds to stepS313. On the other hand, when the switch is turned on, the flow proceedsto step S308. In step S308, an exposure is carried out at a peakposition selected in step S305 or S306 and the stored image data is readout after the exposure is over. In step S309, whether there is anotherpeak position corresponding to another person or not is checked. When apeak position corresponding to another person is there, the flowproceeds to step S310. In step S310, the position is selected and theflow returns to step S308. In step S308, the second exposure is carriedout and the stored image data is read out after the exposure is over.When any other peak position corresponding to the other person is notthere, the flow proceeds to step S311. In step S311, whether theexposure for the closest peak position is completed or not is checked.When the exposure for the closest peak position is not completed, theflow proceeds to step S312. In step S312, the exposure is continued.When the exposure for the closest peak position is completed, thesequence is completed.

In step S307, when the full-press switch 1163 is not turned on, the flowproceeds to step S313. In step S313, whether the half-press switch 1162is turned on or not is checked. When the half-press switch 1162 isturned on, the flow returns to step S307. In step S307, the focusing islocked until the full-press switch 1163 is turned on. On the other hand,in step S313, when the half-press switch 1162 is not turned on, thesequence is completed.

An example of actual shooting is explained with reference to FIGS. 20and 21. FIG. 20 is a drawing showing a case a person and a flowerlocating on this side of the person are disposed in a shooting imageframe. In an ordinary AF shooting, since the closest object has priorityof focusing, in this case, a single image frame focusing at the flowerlocating on this side is shot. FIG. 21 is a graph showing change inevaluation value relative to the focusing lens position. In the casewhere the whole image frame is assumed to be an AF area, change in theevaluation value is shown. In this case, two peak positions (P1 and P2)are detected in the evaluation value. In an ordinary AF, when the valueshave a given value or more, the closest peak P2 is selected regardlessof their mutual sizes. When only the subject contrast is simply detectedin this manner, you cannot tell whether a person is which peak positionP1 or P2. On the other hand, by calculating distance to the person onthe basis of the face size or pupil distance, you can tell the peakposition x1 is corresponding to a person. Accordingly, by shooting twotimes at the closest peak position x2 and the peak position x1corresponding to the person, image data being in focus at each subjectcan be obtained. Alternatively, by shooting only peak positionscorresponding to people, it is possible to set that when the closestpeak position is not corresponding to a person, the subject is not shot.In this case, similar to the setting the angle of view, it is possibleto set that a person having priority to be shot is set to the camera inadvance and only one peak position corresponding to the person is shot.

Accordingly, even if more than one person are there in the AF area, animage frame securely focused to a desired person can be obtained. When aplurality of people are there, it may be possible that each person whois corresponding to a peak position of the evaluation value having agiven value or more is shot instead of shooting everyone. Alternatively,it may be possible to set maximum number of serial shooting. Asdescribed before, since the distance to the feature point calculated onthe basis of the feature point is not accurate, by using this method indetecting peak points of people complementary to the contrast methodwhen a plurality of peak values are there, people can be focusedprecisely.

Then, the method avoiding a shot with closed eyes is explained withreference to FIG. 11. In step S321, whether the full-press switch 1163is turned on or not is checked. When the full-press switch 1163 isturned on, the flow proceeds to step S322. In step S322, the pupil of asubject of the image data before turned on the full-press switch 1163 isdetected by the feature-detection calculator 1123. When it isdiscriminated that the pupil is not detected because the subject isclosing his/her eyes, the flow proceeds to step S323. In step S323, theactual exposure is postponed until the pupil is detected and the flowreturns to step S322. When the pupil is detected, the flow proceeds tostep S324. In step S324, the actual exposure is carried out. In stepS325, the exposed image data is read out. In step S326, whether thepupil is detected by the feature-detection calculator 1123 is checked.When the pupil is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S327. In stepS327, a warning sound is given by a buzzer 123 and the flow returns tostep S322. In step S326, when the pupil is detected, the sequence iscompleted. In this manner, whether the subject's eyes are opened or notis checked before and after the actual shooting. Accordingly, when thesubject is shot with his/her eyes closed, you can shoot again withoutdelay. Alternatively, when the subject is shot with his/her eyes closed,you may correct the pupil of the shot image by software after shootinginstead of shooting again. As for the correction method, the opened eyesof the subject are detected from a video image of the subject shot aftershooting and replaced with the closed eyes.

In the explanation with reference to FIG. 11, although the subject shotwith his/her eyes closed is detected after shooting and shot again, theother defects of the shot subject can also be corrected by shootingagain. For example, when the subject moves upon shooting, it isdiscriminated by detecting an image movement from the reproduced image.When the face of a person is hidden upon shooting a group photography,the number of faces is compared by counted before and after shooting orwhen the outline of a face is not clear enough, it is possible to setthe camera to shoot again. In the warning in step S327, not only gives awarning by a buzzer, but also voice warning explaining particularproblem may be possible such as “Someone closed eyes.”, “Camera shake!”,or “Someone's face is hidden away.”

<Storing>

Storing procedure accompanying with detecting feature point is explainedwith reference to FIG. 12.

In step S401, whether the face outline of a person is detected by thefeature-detection calculator 1123 or not is detected. When it is notdetected, storing procedure is carried out by using parameters for colorreproduction or outline enhancement set in advance. When the faceoutline is detected, the flow proceeds to step S402. In step S402, thenumber of the detected faces is counted. When the number of the faces isa given number or less, the flow proceeds to step S406, other wise tostep S403. Here, the given number is preferably three to four. When thedetected number is more than three to four, the image is discriminatedas a group photography and the flow proceeds to step S403. In step S403,parameters for color reproduction is used giving priority to skin colorin the digital signal processor 106. In step S404, a specific site ofthe face is detected. In step S405, the outline enhancement of the faceexcept the specific site is processed to become weak. The specific siteis such as an eye, a nose, a mouth, ears, hair, an eyebrow, and thelike. Accordingly, since a low-pass-filter is applied to spatialfrequency characteristics except the specific site, wrinkles, moles,freckles, or the like can be inconspicuous. In step S402, when thenumber of faces is a given value or less, the flow proceeds to stepS406. In step S406, the size of the face is checked. When a plurality offaces are detected, the largest face is compared. When the area of theface is a given value or more, the image is discriminated as a portraitphotograph and the flow proceeds to step S403 selecting procedurepriority to skin color. On the other hand, when the area of the face isa given value or less, the image is discriminated as a ceremonialphotograph with landscape and an ordinary storing procedure is carriedout.

As described above, in step S403, not only the face portion but alsowhole image area is selected the procedure using parameters priority toskin color instead of ordinary color parameters. This is because thearea except skin has little skin color component, so that even if theprocedure using parameters priority to skin color is carried out, notmuch effect is received. Accordingly, complicated procedure that picksup the face portion only and carries out the procedure using parameterspriority to skin color only to the portion becomes not necessary.

In the explanation described above, contrary to the process is stepS405, by increasing the outline enhancement to the detected specificsite such as an eye, a nose, a mouth, ears, hair, an eyebrow, and thelike, the face can be expressed boldly. Since the outline enhancement isnot effective to a small face, it is possible to set that the outlineenhancement is carried out only to a face having a certain amount ofarea. Moreover, it may be possible to select either step S403 for theskin color process or step S405 for the outline enhancement. Bypreparing a plurality of parameters for the skin color process or theoutline enhancement and suitably selecting such parameters, it is easythat the degree of skin color or outline enhancement is made to be thebest condition. Moreover, in the case of detecting age and sex,parameters for saturation and luminance may be selected as well asparameters for hue on the basis of the detected result.

In the explanation described above, although these procedures arecarried out before storing, these procedures may be carried out uponreproducing. By storing characteristic information, white balanceprocess information and outline enhancement process information of eachperson in addition to the aforementioned feature point information andfeature point data in the image file explained in FIG. 14, the bestprocedures can be carried out upon reproducing.

In the explanation described above, the feature point detection iscarried out before shooting the subject as described in step S105 inFIG. 2. When the procedure for storing described in FIG. 12 is carriedout, the feature point detection is not necessary to carry out beforeshooting. The feature point-detection may be carried out to the shotimage data after shooting.

In other words, the feature point detection may be carried out only tothe shot image data by locating step S105 for detecting a feature pointbefore step S114 for storing procedure. Accordingly, since the featuredetection is not carried out before shooting, the shooting procedure canbe carried out quickly, so you can shoot without loosing shutter chance.

Additional advantages and modification will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details, and representative devices shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A digital camera system comprising: a detecting means that detects agiven feature point from an image data; a receiving means that receivesan order from a user; a selecting means that selects each feature pointin accordance with a given order instructed by the receiving means whena plurality of feature points are detected; and a display that displaysfeature point information identifying the feature point selected by theselecting means.
 2. The digital camera system according to claim 1,wherein the display displays information regarding the feature pointoverlaid with the image data.
 3. The digital camera system according toclaim 1 further comprising: a face detection means that detects the sizeof a face from the feature point detected by detecting means; whereinthe selecting means selects the face in descending order of the facesize detected by the face detection means.
 4. The digital camera systemaccording to claim 1 further comprising: a distance detection means thatdetects a distance to the feature point detected by the detecting means;wherein the selecting means selects the feature point in ascending orderof the distance detected by the distance detection means.
 5. The digitalcamera system according to claim 1 further comprising: afocus-area-setting means that sets a given area including the featurepoint detected by the detecting means as a focus area for detectingfocus.
 6. The digital camera system according to claim 1 furthercomprising: a photometry-area-setting means that sets a given areaincluding the feature point detected by the detecting means as aphotometry area.
 7. A digital camera system comprising: a detectingmeans that detects a given feature point from an image data; a displaythat displays the feature point detected by the detecting means; areceiving means that receives information regarding the feature pointdisplayed by the display; and a memory that stores the feature point andinformation regarding the feature point.
 8. The digital camera systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the information regarding the featurepoint is specific name information.
 9. The digital camera systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the information regarding the featurepoint is priority information determined when a plurality of featurepoints are detected at a time.
 10. The digital camera system accordingto claim 9 further comprising: a discriminating means that discriminatesthe priority information; and a selecting means that selects featurepoint in order of the priority discriminated by the discriminatingmeans.
 11. The digital camera system according to claim 9 furthercomprising: a distance-measuring-area-setting means that sets a distancemeasuring area for measuring a distance to a subject displayed on thedisplay; wherein the priority information is a priority among theplurality of feature points upon setting the distance measuring area bythe distance-measuring-area-setting means.
 12. The digital camera systemaccording to claim 9 further comprising: a photometry-area-setting meansthat sets a photometry area for measuring lightness of the subjectdisplayed on the display; wherein the priority information is a priorityamong the plurality of feature points upon setting the photometry areaby the photometry-area-setting means.
 13. The digital camera systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the information regarding the featurepoint is at least one of color process information and outlinecorrection process information upon storing the image data including thefeature point.
 14. The digital camera system according to claim 7,wherein the information regarding the feature point is at least one ofcolor process information and outline correction process informationupon reproducing the image data including the feature point.
 15. Thedigital camera system according to claim 7 further comprising: adiscriminating means that discriminates and displays whether or not atleast one of the feature point and information regarding the featurepoint displayed on the display is stored in the memory.
 16. A digitalcamera system comprising: a detecting means that detects a given featurepoint from an image data; a display that displays the feature pointdetected by the detecting means; a input means that inputs informationregarding the feature point displayed by the display; a instructionmeans that instructs to store the feature point and informationregarding the feature point in connection with the image data; and amemory that stores the feature point, information regarding the featurepoint, and the image data instructed by the instruction means.
 17. Thedigital camera system according to claim 16, wherein the informationregarding the feature point is positional information in the image dataupon detecting the feature point from the image data.
 18. A digitalcamera system comprising: a memory that stores a first feature point andfirst specific name information regarding the first feature point; adetecting means that detects a given feature point from an image data;an input means that inputs second specific name information regarding asecond feature point detected by the detecting means; and a storinginstruction means that instructs to additionally store in the memory thesecond feature point when the first specific name information and thesecond specific name information are identical and the first featurepoint and the second feature point are different.
 19. A digital camerasystem comprising: a first memory that stores a first feature point andspecific name information regarding the first feature point; a secondmemory that stores a second feature point and the specific nameinformation in connection with an image data; and a storing instructionmeans that instructs to additionally store in the first memory thesecond feature point when the first feature point and the second featurepoint are different.
 20. A digital camera system comprising: a firstmemory that stores a first feature point and specific name informationregarding the first feature point; a second memory that stores a secondfeature point and the specific name information in connection with animage data; and a storing instruction means that instructs toadditionally store in the second memory the first feature point when thefirst feature point and the second feature point are different.
 21. Adigital camera system comprising: a display that displays an image data;a detecting means that detects a given feature point from the imagedata; a memory that stores a plurality of feature points in advance; achecking means that checks whether or not the feature point detected bythe detecting means is the same as any one of the feature points storedin the memory; and a discriminating-display means that discriminates anddisplays on the display the checked result checked by the checkingmeans.
 22. The digital camera system according to claim 21, wherein thememory stores at least one of specific name information regarding thefeature point and priority information for setting a priority ofselection when a plurality of feature points are detected at a time; andthe discriminating-display means displays on the display informationstored in the memory regarding the feature point checked as the same bythe checking means.
 23. A digital camera system comprising: a detectingmeans that detects a given feature point from an image data; and acontrol means that controls the detected feature point in connectionwith the image data.
 24. A digital camera system comprising: a memorythat stores a given feature point in an image data in connection withinformation regarding the given feature point; a detecting means thatdetects a feature point from an image data; an assigning means thatassigns at least one of the given feature point and informationregarding the given feature point stored in the memory; an agreementchecking means that checks whether or not the feature point detected bythe detecting means is the same as the given feature point; a sizechecking means that checks the size of the feature point checked by theagreement checking means as the same; and a zooming means that zoomsin/out a given area including the feature point corresponding to thesize of the feature point checked by the size checking means.
 25. Thedigital camera system according to claim 24, wherein the agreementchecking means includes an overlaid display means that displays asubject corresponding to the feature point checked as the same by thechecking means overlaid with a maker.
 26. The digital camera systemaccording to claim 24, wherein the information regarding the featurepoint is specific name information for specifying the feature point. 27.The digital camera system according to claim 24, wherein the zoomingmeans zooms in/out such that the size of the feature point checked bythe size checking means becomes a given range of the size.
 28. Thedigital camera system according to claim 24 further comprising: aposition-detecting means that detects the position of the agreed featurepoint in the shooting image frame; wherein the zooming means includes avibration correction lens that corrects vibration upon shooting and avibration correction lens driver that drives the vibration correctionlens such that the agreed feature point comes to a given position in theshooting image frame in response to the detected result of theposition-detecting means.
 29. The digital camera system according toclaim 24 further comprising: a position-detecting means that detects theposition of the agreed feature point in the shooting image frame;wherein the zooming means includes an electronic zooming means thatzooms in/out electronically such that the agreed feature point comes toa given position in the shooting image frame in response to the detectedresult of the position-detecting means.
 30. A digital camera systemcomprising: a detecting means that detects a given feature point from animage data; a position-detecting means that detects the position of thefeature point in a shooting image frame; a vibration correction lensthat corrects vibration upon shooting; and a driver that drives thevibration correction lens such that the feature point comes to a givenposition in the shooting image frame in response to the detected resultof the position-detecting means.
 31. The digital camera system accordingto claim 30, wherein the given position locates in the vicinity of thecenter of the shooting image frame.
 32. The digital camera systemaccording to claim 30 further comprising: a memory that stores the givenfeature point in the image data together with information regarding thegiven feature point; an assigning means that assigns at least one of thegiven feature point and information regarding the given feature pointstored in the memory; and an agreement checking means that checkswhether or not the feature point detected by the detecting means is thesame as the given feature point; wherein the driver drives the vibrationcorrection lens such that the feature point checked by the agreementchecking means as the same comes to the given position.
 33. A digitalcamera system comprising: a shooting instruction means that instructs toshoot a still image of a subject; a detecting means that detects a givenfeature point from the still image data shot in response to theinstruction of the shooting instruction means; a discriminating meansthat discriminates a state of the given feature point detected by thedetecting means; and a warning means that warns in accordance with thediscriminated result of the discriminating means.
 34. The digital camerasystem according to claim 33, wherein the given feature point is a pupilportion of a person and when the discriminating means discriminates thata pupil has not been detected, the warning means gives a warning. 35.The digital camera system according to claim 33, wherein the givenfeature point is an eye or a face outline of a person and when thediscriminating means discriminates that the eye or the face outline hasa camera shake, the warning means gives a warning.
 36. The digitalcamera system according to claim 33, wherein the detecting means detectsa face of a person before shooting a still image and the given featurepoint is a face of a person and when the number of the faces detected bythe detecting means before shooting a still image has not coincide withthat detected from the shot still image, the warning means gives awarning.
 37. A digital camera system comprising: a shooting instructionmeans that instructs to shoot an image of a subject; a detecting meansthat detects a given feature point from the image data shot in responseto the instruction of the shooting instruction means; a discriminatingmeans that discriminates a state of the given feature point detected bythe detecting means; and a reshooting instruction means that instructsthe shooting instruction means to reshoot the subject in accordance withthe discriminated result of the discriminating means.
 38. The digitalcamera system according to claim 37, wherein the given feature point isa pupil portion of a person and when the discriminating meansdiscriminates that a pupil has not been detected, the reshootinginstruction means instructs to reshoot the subject.
 39. The digitalcamera system according to claim 37, wherein the given feature point isan eye or a face outline of a person and when the discriminating meansdiscriminates that the eye or the face outline has a camera shake, thereshooting instruction means instructs to reshoot the subject.
 40. Thedigital camera system according to claim 37, wherein the detecting meansdetects a face of a person before shooting an image and the givenfeature point is a face of a person and when the number of the facesdetected by the detecting means before shooting an image has notcoincide with that detected from the shot image, the reshootinginstruction means instructs to reshoot the subject.
 41. A digital camerasystem comprising: a detecting means that detects a given feature pointfrom an image data; a memory that stores a plurality of colorreproduction parameters for carrying out color reproduction of the wholeimage data; a discriminating means that discriminates a face of a personfrom the feature point detected by the detecting means; a sizecomparator that compares the size of the face discriminated by thediscriminating means with a given value; and a selecting means thatselects a color reproduction parameter giving priority to skin coloramong the plurality of color reproduction parameters when the sizecomparator discriminates that the size of the face is the given value ormore.
 42. A digital camera system comprising: a detecting means thatdetects a given feature point from an image data; a memory that stores aplurality of color reproduction parameters for carrying out colorreproduction of the whole image data; a discriminating means thatdiscriminates a face of a person from the feature point detected by thedetecting means; a number comparator that compares the number of thefaces discriminated by the discriminating means with a given value; anda selecting means that selects a color reproduction parameter givingpriority to skin color among the plurality of color reproductionparameters when the number comparator discriminates that the number ofthe faces is the given value or more.
 43. A digital camera systemcomprising: an imaging device that images a subject; an aperture stopthat controls light quantity incident on the imaging device; a detectingmeans that detects a given feature point from an image data output fromthe imaging device; a discriminating means that discriminates the sizeand the number of the faces from the feature point detected by thedetecting means; and a control means that controls the aperture value ofthe aperture stop to become small when the discriminating meansdiscriminates that the face size detected by the detecting means is afirst given value or more and a second given value or less.
 44. Adigital camera system comprising: a detecting means that detects a givenfeature point for discriminating a subject from an image data; a settingmeans that sets a given setting condition corresponding to at least oneitem of photometry, measuring distance and white balance each includinga plurality of setting conditions upon shooting; and an instructingmeans that instructs the setting means to set different settingcondition in accordance with the detected result of the detecting means.45. The digital camera system according to claim 44 further comprising:a discriminating means that discriminates the subject; wherein when thesetting condition is any one of a condition suitable for a landscape, adistant subject, and a night view and when the discriminating meansdiscriminates a person as the subject, the instructing means instructsthe setting means to set a setting condition suitable for shooting aperson.
 46. The digital camera system according to claim 44, whereinwhen the setting condition is suitable for shooting a person and whenthe detecting means does not detect a person as the subject, theinstructing means instructs the setting means to set any one of acondition suitable for a landscape, a distant object and a night view.47. The digital camera system according to claim 46 further comprising:a warning means that gives a warning when the setting condition issuitable for shooting a person and when the detecting means does notdetect a person as the subject.
 48. A digital camera system comprising:an AF means that controls focusing on the basis of a signal output froma given AF area in an image data; a detecting means that detects a givenfeature point from the image data; a face discriminating means thatdiscriminates a face of a person from the feature point detected by thedetecting means; a position discriminating means that discriminates aposition of the face discriminated by the face discriminating means; anda setting means that sets a given second area as an AF area when theposition discriminating means discriminates that the face position isoutside of a given first area.
 49. A digital camera system comprising: ashooting lens that is composed of a zoom lens and a focusing lens forshooting a subject; a position sensor that detects a position of thezoom lens; a detecting means that detects a given feature point andinformation regarding the feature point from an image data shot by theshooting lens; and a calculator that calculates a distance to thesubject on the basis of information regarding the feature point detectedby the detecting means and the position of the zoom lens detected by theposition sensor.
 50. The digital camera system according to claim 49,wherein the information regarding the feature point is at least one ofthe face size and the pupil distance.
 51. The digital camera systemaccording to claim 49 further comprising: a restriction means thatrestricts a moving range of the focusing lens to a given range on thebasis of the distance to the subject calculated by the calculator. 52.The digital camera system according to claim 49 further comprising: anaperture stop that controls light quantity incident on the shootinglens; and an aperture determining means that determines an aperturevalue of the aperture stop such that when a plurality of faces aredetected by the detecting means, a given face among the plurality offaces comes in focus on the basis of the distances to the plurality offaces calculated by the calculator.
 53. A digital camera systemcomprising: an illumination means that illuminates a subject uponshooting the subject; a detecting means that detects a given featurepoint from an image data; a distance calculator that calculates adistance to the feature point on the basis of the feature point detectedby the detecting means; and a illumination quantity setting means thatsets an illumination light quantity of the illumination means on thebasis of the distance calculated by the distance calculator.
 54. Thedigital camera system according to claim 53 further comprising: aplurality of photometry areas that measure luminance of the subject; andan exposure setting means that sets an exposure condition upon shootingon the basis of an output of a given photometry area among the pluralityof photometry areas.
 55. The digital camera system according to claim 53further comprising: a size detector that detects a face size or a pupildistance from the feature point detected by the detecting means; and alens position sensor that detects the focal length of the zoom lens;wherein the distance calculator calculates a distance to the featurepoint on the basis of the face size or the pupil distance detected bythe size detector and the focal length of the zoom lens detected by thelens position sensor.
 56. The digital camera system according to claim53 further comprising: a discriminating means that discriminates whetheror not the distance is within the controllable exposure range of theillumination means on the basis of the distance to the subjectcalculated by the distance calculator; and a warning means that gives awarning when the discriminating means discriminates that the distance isout of the controllable exposure range.
 57. A digital camera systemcomprising: a main illumination means that illuminates a subject uponshooting the subject; an auxiliary illumination means that illuminatesthe subject with an auxiliary illumination in advance; a detecting meansthat detects a given feature point from an image data; and a settingmeans that sets an illumination light quantity of the main illuminationmeans on the basis of a reflection light from the feature pointilluminated with the auxiliary illumination by the auxiliaryillumination means.
 58. The digital camera system according to claim 57,wherein the feature point is a face portion of a person.
 59. A digitalcamera system comprising: an imaging device that shoots an image of asubject; a memory that stores an image data; a detecting means thatdetects a given feature point from the image data; an instructing meansthat instructs the imaging device to shoot the subject for storing inthe memory; and a controller that controls the detecting means not tocarry out detecting procedure to an image data output from the imagingdevice before the instructing means gives the instruction.
 60. Thedigital camera system according to claim 59 further comprising: aprocessing means that processes at least one of white balance processand outline enhancement process on the basis of the feature pointdetected by the detecting means in response to the instruction given bythe instructing means.
 61. The digital camera system according to claim60 further comprising: a controller that controls the memory to storethe image data processed by the processing means.
 62. A digital camerasystem comprising: a memory that stores a given feature point togetherwith information regarding the feature point detected from an imagedata; a display that displays either the feature point or theinformation regarding the feature point stored in the memory; and adeleting means that deletes from the memory at lest a portion of thefeature point or the information regarding the feature point displayedon the display.
 63. A digital camera system comprising: a memory thatstores a given feature point together with information regarding thefeature point detected from an image data; a display that displayseither the feature point or the information regarding the feature pointstored in the memory; and a controller that changes at least a portionof the feature point or the information regarding the feature pointdisplayed on the display and stores to the memory.